APRIL. 91 



and become deprived, in a certain degree, of the 

 power of recalling the images of those which are 

 gone by ; whence we reap the double advantage of 

 not being disgusted with the deadness of the wintry 

 landscape, from a comparison with the hilarity of 

 spring; and when spring itself appears, it comes 

 with a freshness of beauty which charms us at 

 once with novelty, and a recognition of old de- 

 lights. Symptoms of spring now crowd thickly 

 upon us : however regular may be our walks, we 

 are daily surprised at the rapid march of vegetation, 

 at the sudden increase of freshness, greenness, and 

 beauty ; one old friend after another starts up be- 

 fore us in the shape of a flower. The violets 

 which came out in March in little delicate groups, 

 now spread in myriads along the hedge-rows, and 

 fill secluded lanes with their fragrance. In some 

 springs, however, though most abundant, yet, per- 

 haps owing to the dryness of the weather, they are 

 almost scentless. The pilewort, or lesser celandine, 

 too, is now truly beautiful, opening thousands and 

 tens of thousands of its splendidly gilt and starry 

 flowers along banks, and at the feet of sheltered 

 thickets ; so that, whoever sees them in their per- 

 fection> will cease to wonder at the admiration 

 which Wordsworth has poured out upon them in 

 two or three separate pieces of poetry. Anemones 

 blush and tremble in copses and pastures ; the wild 

 cherry enlivens the woods ; and in the neighbour- 

 hood of Nottingham the vernal crocus presents a 

 unique and most beautiful appearance, covering 



